Sunday, December 11, 2011

So....for weeks I have been trying to update my blog but three of my accounts were hacked...including this one because they were all somehow connected...so I finally had a chance to change all of my passwords!

I'M BACK!

And doing great, I have officially lost 63 lbs! WOOHOO! On the 13th, it will be my 7 month anniversary with dukan.

Man oh man...does that sound nice? I've never stuck with something this long.

Confession time...

I fell off the wagon for 2 weeks being really sick and only being able to eat salty things (crackers, chips, fries) and I felt afraid to weigh in...its not like I was eating a TON because...I was sick...I didn't feel like eating anything. And when I stepped on the scale I was 6 lbs lighter...VERY LUCKY. But I slowly but surely got back on the dukan horse. I knew if I didn't I would easily gain that 6 lbs back PLUS a ton more!

It made me feel comfortable that I had the slip up but knew how to get back on track...this is a life journey for me and I love that I know the basics and how to jumpstart Dukan again after slip-ups.

Slip-ups aren't the end of us, life happens, sometimes you are put into situations where you have no choice but to choose things that aren't on dukan...but the true test comes when you are pushed to get back to dukan. Can you do it? Of course!! Will you do it? That's up to you I suppose :)

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

As I continue on with my weight loss journey I have become very interested in obesity and our youth and how much of an issue it is. I want to help! And my thinking is-if I am able to reach out to just one kid, help one person get through the bullying and the hard times of being overweight/obese then I will be happy.

And then take them down a road of getting healthy and fit for THEMSELVES not for others! Thats the most important thing to me, at least.

Check it out and pass it on to your young ones about teen bullying due to weight/obesity! We can change the world, we really, truly can!

For some strange reason blogger wont let me just post the video I'll try to fix it later, but heres the link to it for now!! :

Sunday, October 30, 2011

I LOVE HALLOWEEN! As I get older it's slowly becoming a favorite holiday! As I get skinnier costume shopping is getting easier too ;)

Yesterday we were out all afternoon so I had a salad from a restaurant. It was quite yummy! And salsa works as a great dressing - I haven't stepped on the scale yet but ya know what, family time and seeing my brother perform on stage made it all worth it.

Just because we are on this new lifestyle doesnt mean you have to stop enjoying life, it doesn't mean we can't have fun with holidays, we just have to realize that food isn't the only way to have fun anymore!

But getting home at bar close with friends stopping for french fries is still tempting but...I must resist! (french fries were my weakness and I can't believe I havent had one small bite of one in over 5 months!)

So blessed. Stay happy. I love yall!

-BCherry

"Like the sky opens after a rainy day we must open to ourselves.... Learn to love yourself for who you are and open so the world can see you shine." -James Poland <3

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Hey all! I started video blogs (Vlogs!) And I hope you enjoy them! My goal with them are to answer questions for ya via video :) I think it could be a lot of fun! So send me your questions and I'll help as much as possible!

As of now I have three videos up on youtube, and a lot more to come! I'll just attach the three here for now! YAY!

Happy Dukaning :)

The video below is a tip about how to get your workouts in...and how important it is to push yourself! You can do it! :)

The video below is about the struggle of trying to explain why you can't have that piece of pizza or why your diet is 'taking so long' and why you cant 'have a cheat day' have any of you experienced these questions from others? You're not alone! :)

Friday, September 16, 2011

So yesterday I did it-I lost over 50 lbs! WOOHOO! And I'm still going strong planning on hitting my true weight come december. Man...it feels good. We recently went shopping and I got a size 12 pair of jeans...from a size 20 in May of this year! WOW!

And my mom's size 6-yes 6-jeans are becoming too big!

It feels really good to be fit and healthy. My gosh--just think where all of us on this journey are going to be in 6 months? or a year! or 30 years! WE ARE MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES! We are choosing a life of happiness and a stronger future.

We are choosing ourselves.We are choosing life. And that is the best choice in the whole wide world!

If you are having struggles here are my tips of the day:

1. Breathe. It will be okay! Trust the process.2. Back to the basics-do a day or two of only white meats and very lean proteins. 3. NEVER EVER EVER give up! The hardest part of the journey is normally the moment right before the miracle.

5. Enjoy! We had 12 and share with 4 of us, so about 3 peppers each! It's great for football parties, and we have been making these for years! The family (even the non-dukaners) are always asking for us to bring them!

Step 1: Preheat oven to 375. Mix all the dry ingredients together and then add in the egg and yogurt and mix it together.

Step 2: Spray a cake pan with a little cooking spray and pour in the crepe mixture. Lightly shake the pan back and forth and sideways to spread out the mixture. Toss in the oven for 5 minutes.

Step 3: Pull out of the oven, sprinkle half of a sweetener packet on the top of the crepe. Set the sweetener to the side. Then toss the pan under the broiler for a minute or two (so it's gets crispy, watch closely!).

Step 4: Pull out the crepe and flip it over. Sprinkle the remaining sweetener packet on that side of the crepe. Toss back into the oven for about a minute.

Step 5: Pull out the crepe. Toss it on a plate and put it into the freezer for 2 minutes to cool.

Filling Recipe:

1/4 cup Greek Yogurt1 teaspoon ground ginger2 packets of sweetener1 teaspoons of your favorite sf jello powder (strawberry is my favorite, add more if you want more flavoring)1 strawberry (optional. It has been stated that you are allowed a strawberry during cruise phase)

Step 1: Mix all of those items together. Place in the freezer for 5-10 minutes.

LASTLY!

Take out the crepe, and fill it with 3/4 of the filling. fold it shut. Then place the rest of the filling on top! For an extra yum-sprinkle a lil cinnamon on top!

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Sorry it's been awhile, I've been busy busy with deadlines and everything coming up! But now those are done for awhile! I can finally breathe...thankfully!

Today I started my two-a-days workouts. It feels good! Knowing that I can run for 45 minutes (somewhat tired) feels great! I am turning into the me I knew I could be!

So happy news! Since I started dukan back on the 13th of May, I have lost over 40 lbs and went from a size 20 to a size 12! CRAZY! I'm going for a size 4-6 by the end of this year. I know I can do it, which makes this quite exciting!

The weight loss slowed for awhile-and I think it goes to things such as a lot of stress, not enough sleep, and not enough working out. I had been sooo tired until now. I have new energy again! I've been getting more sleep, and taking my vitamins which help a lot!

Friday, August 26, 2011

So for awhile I wasn't really losing weight and was kind of down on myself, but reminded myself that it was a process. And I need to trust the process!

Anywho...I was going through old pics of me and found a NASTY GROSS picture! I thought for a moment to delete it...but then I decided I can use it as a reminder to never go back there. So I took pictures to try to motivate myself, boy did it work! Ugh I can't believe I'm posting these pics but, here goes!

The yellow pic is the one that I almost hit delete to. Sigh. Never again! :)

Friday, August 19, 2011

Okay not for me. BUT! My mom reached hers yesterday! And the date Dr. Dukan predicted for her was today! So here is her before and after picture! SHE LOOKS AMAZING! I'm so proud of her and inspired by her drive.

Until I hit 40 lbs lost! When did THAT happen? I'm hoping that I will get it by this time next week! Fingers crossed!

I'm sorry I haven't updated in awhile-life kind of got in the way-in the best way possible! I feel so good inside and out!

I actually added multi-vitamins into my life (I know, I should have been taking them a long time ago, but hey, better now than never right?) and they have really helped me with energy!

I have 4 more months of cruising stage, and it seems that it will be the easiest thing ever! This new lifestyle rocks! :)

How are you all doing?

Meaningful quote of the day:"Promise yourself to live your life as a revolution and not just a process of evolution." -Anthony J. D'Angelo

Give life all you got and I promise you, it will bless you with greatness! You can do SO MUCH more than you think you can! If you really push yourself, you'll go so much further than you ever imagined!

I remember last year around this time I was so depressed about my weight and I said to my mom "My problem is that I love food so much. I fear that I will always be this size." -How scary is that, that my mind was tricking me to think that I couldn't lose the weight?

Nothing worked for me, not counting calories, not working out nonstop. So I was broken. Beat down. And just about ready to give up thinking I would never lose the weight. How many of you have felt that way?

But the greatest thing about the darkest moments, is the light of day is right around the corner! DON'T GIVE UP! PUSH! You can do it. I promise, and once you do, I want to be there to celebrate with you.

We are worth it. We are strong. And we are made for greatness. Never forget that!

Sunday, August 7, 2011

You ever get to a point with something where you slowly start realizing that you aren't giving it your all?

Next week marks my 3rd month of Dukan and I haven't been as strong as I have in the beginning. Ive grown comfortable with losing without exercising as much. I've been cheating myself of better results.

So today that changes! I'm getting over a summer flu, and am ready to go hardcore! To push myself! To make these next three months count big time! I got this! :D !!

Monday, August 1, 2011

Saturday was a tough day for me. The first, and only thing I had to eat was a chicken breast at 10 am. Then I was off running around with my friend all day, then saw her show, then after they had a cast party with all you can eat pizza which all looked amazing. But I couldn't let myself eat it. I just couldn't. BAD PLANNING BRIT! Man, I hope that never happens again.

Then on Sunday I had to buy chips and bake brownies and cupcakes for my cast of my web-series. We were filming for over 8 hours straight and man was I tired and kind of wanting carbs but I avoided them, and I'm glad I did! 2 more pounds gone in those two days!

I am almost at the 40lbs lost milestone and so happy with myself! I would be lying if I said I didn't sometimes crave french fries (my all time favorite thing!) but I just keep thinking about how they will be better as my celebration meal! Only about 3 more months, maybe 4, until I'm done with Cruise!

I'm feeling pretty great :)

Sorry for the lack of posts..I've been so sleepy lately, but I've been happy all at the same time! I'm gonna try to post more recipes (BOO to me! I always forget to take pictures!)

How are you all doing? Great I hope :)

Now excuse me as I go say hi to my pillow and blankie :) Love you all!

I wanted to take a picture of the meal..but I ate it too fast lol sorry!

Anywho! This morning I looked in my closet at my favorite pair of jeans, that only fit once (they were ALWAYS too small, and when I say once, I mean I've only wore them for one day) and I knew there was no way they would fit today, but I thought I would try to see how much more I might have to lose...

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

I put together some wayyy before pics (where I was very close to 300lbs!) with pics from now...wow...it's crazy to see where you have come from and where you are and I am excited to see where I'm going! :)

Friday, July 15, 2011

So...weight loss is an interesting thing...I've been looking back on older pictures of me, and its amazing how as I lose weight, my smile gets brighter and brighter! I learned to love everything about me though, no matter what!

I always struggled with my nose, people would call it huge and fat and stuff and I was always insecure about it until I said to myself, "Look, you cant let others views of you affect you to the point that you dont feel comfortable in your own skin. Own it." So I did. I took the one thing I hated about myself and replaced the word 'hate' with the word 'love'. It didn't happen over night, but now I am madly in love with my big-ol' nose!

And I'm not just weight loss! I'm a writer! I'm a director! I'm an actress! I loveeeeeeeeee make-up! I'm a weird Backstreet Boys and New Kids On The Block fan, I dance in my bedroom alone at night rocking out to Katy Perry. I find cartoons still entertaining! I need to remember that yes, I am on the weight loss journey, but it isn't the only thing going on in my life.

That's why I love Dukan, it makes it kind of easy to forget your on a 'diet'. You just begin to live life with the new habits you have learned, it becomes a daily rountine like brushing ones teeth!

I said earlier how I am so into make-up, for awhile I wanted to do it professionally until I realized that I was no good at doing OTHER'S make-up. (Sorry for the people I made look like clowns-my bad!) So I guess I'll have to stick with being my own make-up artist. Here's a few pics from my make-up adventures! I plan to have fun with this cheap $1 eyeshadow kit with so many colors that I'm addicted to (and it works better than any $14 eye make-up I have ever had!) and I'll take pics of those outcomes this week!

Be True. Be You. Embrace it. You're Beautiful. Inside and Out. OWN IT!

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

PLATEAU! What an ugly word. But the best feeling in the world is when you break through it. It's Freeing!

So last week the scale showed that I was up 1.3 lbs. UGH, I was so angry! I was doing everything PERFECT! What happened! It wasn't that TOM, there was no cheating, no clue! But, like a good girl, I logged it on my Wii Fit, and it stayed that high for 4 days...then I suddenly lost that plus .5 lbs. I feel good! I have reached my weekly goal, so I am pretty happy with that.

So I stopped and thought, even with the 1.3 gain-I was still surpassing my goal for the week. Why in the world was I even upset? Just seeing that dot on my Wii chart go up instead of the constant downward trend drove me crazy! I felt grossed out with myself...but now thinking about it, I feel pretty great.

Next weekend will mark my two months at Dukan. And I am 3 pant sizes down...and tons of weight lighter! 4 more lbs and I'll hit 30lbs lost!

So I just need to realize that I am losing. In a minute I'll be buying jean sizes that I've never owned.I feel GREAT inside and out, and I need to remember that it isn't always what the scale is telling me, because to be honest that scale can be quite the bully some days! Yet, it's about the journey. It's a journey that I am loving and passionate about.

Below are two yummy looking foods...I made an awesome bun for a grilled chicken sandwich I had today, and for dinner I had Tomato Basil pizza. So yum!

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Hey Everyone! So just completed the sixth week of Dukan Lifestyle and I am going strong with it! It's so simple...and yummy! I feel better than I have in a long time!

My knee had been bad for MONTHS-snapping as I walked up and down steps, and after 25+ lbs gone, it's about 90% better! I feel GREAT! I wish I could tell more people about this! And if they ask I will for sure tell!

It hasn't even been two months yet! I know within at least two more months I can lose 25 more lbs...which will be killer! One step at a time :)

What's for Supper?

Well seeing how it is yet again a PV day we are having stuffed peppers with ground beef and tomato sauce! Yummmmm

I cant wait!

I haven't done a food photo post in awhile so I'll get one prepared for the upcoming week...a whole day in the life of dukan!

So I think I'm gonna take a pic each day and update it on this page at least once a week...I think it will be fun to look at how much I change as time goes on! Here's the one taken at 1pm today! I felt a little creative and colored in the necklace. I'm feeling smaller and smaller each day :)

Sorry that I haven't posted in awhile! But life has been amazing lately!!! I am about 25lbs down on the diet and feeling good!

Currently I am on a train heading back to Wisconsin from Chicago after an amazing trip with my momma to go see NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK and BACKSTREET BOYS and let's just say it has been amazing! Easily the best concert I've been to! And even better-I felt great having lost the extra baggage! Do you know losing ten pounds is 40lbs of weight off of your knees? That means I have lost 90lbs of pressure off of my knees-and boy can I feel it! It feels great!!

I swear just from the concert I had to burn a ton of calories haha it was epic! And I took my "five weeks in" pictures and when I get back home I'll be posting the before and during pictures. I wonder if anyone else can see the difference? Cuz I sure can feel it! :)

I still have a ways to go but man-25lbs in 5 weeks!? No complaints.

I havent really had any cravings except french fries-but I haven't cheated once.

It seems weird-lately I notice skinny people more and it kind of pushes me to perform better at the diet, and the same goes for people overweight-I see them and never want to go back to that!

I really wish that more people knew about Dukan, it's amazingly easy and the results are insane!

I sometimes think "Dr. Dukan is saving my life" but he is just giving me the tools to enable me to save my own life! It's like a basketball coach, they can teach you the tools and tell you how to improve, yet they cant win the game for you. YOU have to win it yourself-than at the end celebrate with your coach. It's a team effort!

Saturday, June 11, 2011

I've been at it for a month! WOW! Life Changing! I feel GREAT! 20-some lbs gone and they will never come back! This is such a life changing program, the dukan diet, and I love it so much for making my life healthy!

I haven't missed any bad foods really...but during the rehearsal dinner for my friends wedding there were 8-9 pizzas that smelled killer good, but I avoided them! And my little brother had chinese the other day that smelt soo yum...but I avoided that too! Just thinking about how much sodium was in them was a huge turn off.

Sooo as always I have some yummy photos of this weeks meals! Lets see what we got..this week I introduced grilled asparagus to my life :) I always thought I hated the stuff, but geez do I love it!

In my first post about the dukan diet, I said I would at least stick to it for 3 months...one month is already gone! I can't image ever getting off of this lifestyle...it's so much easier than I ever thought it would be and I am happy! Three months? Psh..try the rest of my life! And in a few months I'll be eating fruits and bread and pastas again *not that I even really want it anymore...*

Monday, June 6, 2011

So the wedding weekend is over. Thank God. Don't get me wrong, it was a ton of fun and the bride looked gorgeous, but I am tired. Very tired. And my dukan diet suffered a little bit, but for the most part I did great!

I'm just happy to get back to normal life and be able to exercise two times a day and eat the dukan way! I am ready for the rest of my life!

But...being the biggest person in the wedding party is a little depressing, yet I will move on...

Now...if people will stop tagging me in photos on facebook as a reminder of that. ugh.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

On my phone I mark a 'goal' for each Wednesday of what I would like to weigh on that day and this weeks goal looks like its not going to be met. This past Saturday was my best friends bachelorette party, and we went to a Thai restaurant where I ordered Pad Thai...bad idea.

The next morning I was up 4 lbs! So I did two pure protein days in a row...and lost nothing. Actually I even gained .4 ugh!

I'm never cheating again, it's not worth it, and if my friends cant understand me eating differently than they aren't truly my friends (and they are, so they'll understand). This weekend is the wedding..and I am out of my 'comfort zone' with food for four days in Illinois! AH! But as they say 'Insanity is performing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.' So I'm gonna learn from what I did wrong on Saturday to make it through these days. I'm not afraid of failure, because that was never an option.

Maybe God is teaching me a lesson and showing me that I should never cheat, and maybe by his grace I will drop the 4+ lbs by tomorrow (aka my main weigh-in)...

Sunday, May 29, 2011

YUP! It's crazy I know. I am down 15 pounds in two weeks. I'm all about it. I had a slip up yesterday-so I'll see if it affected me a lot at tomorrows weigh in. Fingers crossed that it didnt! We'll see.

Anywho, check out this yummy healthy pizza we made! Woot! It was just as good-if not better-than reg fatting pizza! I think it was better because it didn't have any gross oil and fat drippings all over it..and it tasted so fresh! YUM!

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

So what I have been talking about for pretty much two weeks now is the Dukan Diet...

Ugh. That word 'Diet' just doesnt work for me because its more of a lifestyle change ya know? Its the new me! 13 days, 13 lbs gone. CRAZY!!! :) so happy!

But I know why this is working this time. Because I want it. I am ready to commit to it. In the past I would get sooo into the idea of losing weight that I would feel defeated when a day went by the the scale didn't move. Or worse-it went up. But now, I understand myself, I have grown so much as a person (even if I'm only 24!) And I am prepared.

I did the research and I know that I can do this, and stick with it! I am ready for the rest of my life. :)

SOOO here's some of the best moments of yummy comfort foods from this past week! I'll tag which ones are for PP days (Pure Protein) and PV (Protein Veggies) SOO yum!

Monday, May 23, 2011

Hey friends!!! So I am 11 days into the Dukan Diet and have lost 12 lbs! UNREAL! I'm so excited and happy about how easy it has all been! It helps that I'm doing this with my momma and sister- each of who have also lost 12 lbs!

I'm seriously hoping for 20 lbs lost for the month-and I kind of think I can do it! Only 8 more lbs in a little less than 3 weeks :)

We are working our butts off! Walking/running 30 mins a day/7 days a week and circuit training for 30mins/five days a week.

It feels great! I feel great! And never really hungry...it's awesome :)

Monday, May 16, 2011

Lets just have a moment and sigh in the excellence of Oat Bran! The things you can do with 1.5tablespoons of this stuff! And its SOOO good for you! I have used it so far as a crepe (filled it with a fat free yogurt,cinnamon,fat free cream cheese mix), hamburger buns, cookies, and pancakes! SO YUM!

So what you are seeing is a turkey burger with a dip made of mustard, hot sauce, FF cream cheese, FF yogurt, and season salt, pepper, and garlic. soo good! Sorry the picture is so blah-I had to use my camera phone. I can't WAIT until protein-veggie days to add tomato and lettuce and spinach and such!

The bun was just the Dukan Diet pancake recipe. We seasoned it up for a 'savory' feel with garlic powder and pepper. Easily enough :) Also, we used a little cooking spray (NO OIL! And Honestly, people use much too much oil to cook with, it's surprising to see how little is actually needed!)

I am in love with this new lifestyle and I'm learning and exploring all these healthy choices with my eyes filled with excitement! I feel like such a nerd because I'm so into it :) Being a foodie has never been so great!

Step One:Preheat Oven to 400 degrees. Take the cream cheese and mix in a teaspoon of Pepper, Italian, and Garlic. Mix it well and set to the side. (Taste it to see if you need more cream cheese or seasoning, I actually added more Italian for more flavor)

Step Two:Take the chicken breast and cut a slit in the middle (Make sure not to cut all the way through!) and rub the breast with all of the seasonings. For some extra yum rub the inside of the chicken breast with the seasonings.

Step Three:Fill the chicken with the cream cheese. You can add toothpicks if needed to keep together (wasn't needed for me) Toss in a pan and place in the oven (No oil or anything needed, make sure its a non-stick pan. If not, add a LITTLE cooking spray). Cooking time differs for each oven, but mine took about 30-35 minutes.

During the first few days of the diet you are put into the 'Attack Phase' where you just eat protein. It's all based on your current weight and your goal weight for how long you would be in this phase. For me, I have four more days of this to go! *counting today!*

I'm surprised at how easy it is working for me, and I am getting enough calories which is nice. *I use www.loseit.com to track my calorie intake.*

So since this program is pretty new in the US (people are really jumping on it since around March) I guess I am considered a tester of the plan. I think that's kind of cool to be one of the first...

Check out their site at http://www.dukandiet.co.uk/ and find out your 'true weight' it's a great tool! If you plan on starting this my only tip is this--RESEARCH! Find out if it is something you TRULY think you can do.

I'll be posting a recipe later today with pictures for A Stuffed Chicken Breast that I will be having for lunch. It will be fun to start cooking more because I am such a dork and foodie. So finding healthy foods that taste amazing is my goal! My favorite so far is the many ways you can use the oat bran! Cookies, Pancakes, muffins! All with like 5 ingredients or less! and SOOO yum!